Melissa Abbate
Professor Fogleman
EDC 102H
21 September 2011 Early Schooling Influences
High school is where the biggest of my influences were. With that said, I really had nothing that influenced me during my elementary and middle school years. Of course, one must also consider the fact that I switched schools during seventh grade, which cut off a lot of my connections. I was never at my elementary school nor my middle school long enough to establish a strong foundation, which is such a shame considering I had such great teachers that never got the opportunity to influence me.
On the same token, it would be unfair to say that I solely helped myself along. If I had to pinpoint any influence during this time, it would probably be my mom. She was my best friend, the person I told everything to. Every Friday she would pick me up from school and we would go to the bookstore and have dinner at a restaurant called Olio’s. Those were really the best moments in my life. She didn’t help me with my homework that much, but what she did do was provide encouragement and help me study. In fact, before I realized that languages were my passion, she prodded me to become a translator. I remember her telling me that since the world language department was my best area, I should major in that and pursue a career in it. I remember responding that I hated Spanish. Well, she was right, as most moms probably are about these things.
The things I learned academically in elementary and middle school go beyond my reach, but what I did retain was the social skills I picked up. Like many people, I used to be bullied in middle school. So I learned to sit in the back, where I could observe who was whispering to who and perhaps pinpoint the subject of their conversations. Drama spread by rumors were killer. From trusting my best friend at the time I learned, to quote an acquaintance, that I couldn’t “trust someone until you trust them.” Since I had moved, it was the first time that I had to rely on myself to make friends, and I was all too eager to trust people. Even now, I haven’t contacted my elementary school friends in years, and I can barely recall the kids from my middle school. It’s sad, but it’s life.
It wasn’t all negative, though. I had some superb teachers who I lost contact with over the years. They encouraged me to go above and beyond: to shoot for that proverbial moon. Of course I still remember what I have learned in early schooling, though I feel most of what I learned was social, not academic. Even if I really became myself in high school, I know that the first step to that was my middle school years.
Professor Fogleman
EDC 102H
21 September 2011
Early Schooling Influences
High school is where the biggest of my influences were. With that said, I really had nothing that influenced me during my elementary and middle school years. Of course, one must also consider the fact that I switched schools during seventh grade, which cut off a lot of my connections. I was never at my elementary school nor my middle school long enough to establish a strong foundation, which is such a shame considering I had such great teachers that never got the opportunity to influence me.
On the same token, it would be unfair to say that I solely helped myself along. If I had to pinpoint any influence during this time, it would probably be my mom. She was my best friend, the person I told everything to. Every Friday she would pick me up from school and we would go to the bookstore and have dinner at a restaurant called Olio’s. Those were really the best moments in my life. She didn’t help me with my homework that much, but what she did do was provide encouragement and help me study. In fact, before I realized that languages were my passion, she prodded me to become a translator. I remember her telling me that since the world language department was my best area, I should major in that and pursue a career in it. I remember responding that I hated Spanish. Well, she was right, as most moms probably are about these things.
The things I learned academically in elementary and middle school go beyond my reach, but what I did retain was the social skills I picked up. Like many people, I used to be bullied in middle school. So I learned to sit in the back, where I could observe who was whispering to who and perhaps pinpoint the subject of their conversations. Drama spread by rumors were killer. From trusting my best friend at the time I learned, to quote an acquaintance, that I couldn’t “trust someone until you trust them.” Since I had moved, it was the first time that I had to rely on myself to make friends, and I was all too eager to trust people. Even now, I haven’t contacted my elementary school friends in years, and I can barely recall the kids from my middle school. It’s sad, but it’s life.
It wasn’t all negative, though. I had some superb teachers who I lost contact with over the years. They encouraged me to go above and beyond: to shoot for that proverbial moon. Of course I still remember what I have learned in early schooling, though I feel most of what I learned was social, not academic. Even if I really became myself in high school, I know that the first step to that was my middle school years.
RP